Plastic safety container for inflammables

ABSTRACT

An all-plastic safety container has a hollow plastic wall with a continuously closed inner surface terminating at a pair of openings; one for venting and filling, and one for pouring. An integral, upstanding, thickened fin and handle combination formed on the outside surface of the container, facilitates the attachment of trigger controlled, safety cap linkage and hardware to the can, without breaking through the inner surface. Yet, the container and its handle are mechanically strong enough to withstand severe usage and to life heavy weights.

United States Patent 11 1 V Flider Feb. 26, 1974 [54] PLASTIC SAFETYCONTAINER FOR 2,147,230 2/1939 Anschicks 222 474 INFLAMMABLES 1,051,2731/1913 Sandberg et a1 p 2,670,107 2/1954 Welden 222/474 [75] Inventor:Frank S. Fllder, Ch1cago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: The Justrite Manufacturing Primary Examiner-Stanley H.Tollberg Company, Chicago, Ill. Assistant Examiner-Norman L. .Stack, Jr.Filed A 13 1971 Attorney, Agent, or Firm -Alter, Weiss, Whitesel &

Laff [21] Appl. No.: 171,537

Related 0.8. Application Data 57 TR [63] gy j f g g igg 23 97313 Anall-plastic safety container has a hollow plastic wall with acontinuously-closed inner surface terminating at a pair of openings; onefor venting and filling, and fits-3L one orp uri g n i gral, pst ndi g,ick fi 58] Fieid 509 and handle combination formed on the outsidesurface 470 220294 of the container, facilitates the attachment oftrigger controlled, safety cap linkage and hardware to the can, withoutbreaking through the inner surface. Yet, [56] keferencs Clted thecontainer and itshandle are mechanically strong UNITED STATES PATENTSenoughto withstand severe usage and to life heavy 2,172,142 9 1939ILebus 222/474 g 4 3,387,749 6/1968 'Godshalk et al... 220/94 A I I2,792,159 5/1957 Richmond; 222 472 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Pmmuraezslsn sum 1 or 2 FIC5.2

INVE-NiT BY .FRANK S. FLI-DER ATTORNEYS This is a continuation in partof my earlier filed, copending application entitled SAFETY CONTAINER FORINFLAMMABLES, Sen. No. 97,713, filed Dec. 14, 1970, now US. Pat. No.3,727,807 and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

This invention relates to plastic safety cans or containers, especiallyalthough not exclusively to containers for inflammable fluids, andmore'particularly to low-cost containers having two vents with manuallycontrolled, spring biased caps or valves attached thereto.

Containers for inflammables usually have prescribed safetyspecifications which are enforced by governmental, industrial, or tradeagencies. Thus, improved containers must meet or exceed specifications.Also, they must have a sales appeal which goes beyond the sales appealof previously available safety cans or containers. The exact nature andpurpose of these structures is not too important. Therefore, the termscan or container, as used hereinafter, are intended to encompass any andall uses and structures falling within the scope of the invention.

Generally, previously known containers have been made of a heavy gaugesteel material, which had draw backs in that they were expensive tomake, hazardous in an explosive atmosphere, and short lived in use. Theytend to corrode, create hazardous sparks, and scratch the surfaces theycontact. Moreover, when metal cans are bumped they sometimes leak airand thereafter sustain internal fire.

Attractive, all-plastic safety cans or containers have been developed toprovide spring loaded caps which automatically open when the can orcontainer is tipped and close when it is at rest. These plastic cans orcontainers answer many long felt needs, with ease and convenience.However, they also present some problems, since it' is not alwaysdesirable to open the'can every time that it is tipped. Sometimes it isdesirable for the can to remain closed after it is tipped and until itspouring spout or vent is brought into contact with the tank forreceiving fluids poured from thecan. Only thenshould the safety cap beopened to release the fluids. If the can is a heavy one, suchas a fivegallon gasoline can, forexample, the trigger for manually controllingthe pouring should not require the user to shift or loosen'his grip whenhe operates the trigger. Also, the trigger should be positioned foreasyand positive operation.

Accordingly,.an object of the invention is to provide plastic containershaving solid and upstanding, integral handles and fins thereon, whichprovide anchorv points for attaching cap controlling hardware to thecontainers. Here, an object is to provide as many all-plastic piecepartsas possible.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spring loaded,safety valve which is linked to a handle arrangement to open only whenthe user moves a trigger. Here, an object is to avoida container whichpours gasoline whenever it is tipped.

A further object is to provide a low-cost, explosionproof. automaticallyventing gasoline container.

These and other objects are accomplished by an allplastic safetycontainer, which has a hollow plastic wall with a continuously closedinner surface terminating at a pair of openings. An integral,upstanding, thickened fin and handle combination on the outside surfaceof the container facilitates the attachment of trigger controlled,safety cap hardware and linkage to the container, without breakingthrough the inner surface. Yet, the container and its handle aremechanically strong enough to withstand severe usage and to lift heavyweights. 1

The nature of a preferred embodiment of the invention, for accomplishingthese and other objects may be understood best from a study of thefollowing description and the attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation side view of an all-plastic container;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view (partly in' crosssection) of the topof a plastic safety container with a fin and plastic handle arrangementshowing the hardware, linkage, cap and valve used to control the pouringof fluids;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a saddle bracket used to attach a capcontrol linkage to a plastic container;

FIG.-4 is a top plan view of the saddle bracket taken along line 4--4 ofFIG.-3;,

FIGS.'5 and 6 are side elevation and top plan view of the plasticcontrol trigger and linkage piecepart;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view (taken along line 77 of FIG. 2) of thecontainer handle; and,

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of an injection molded part used inconjunction with the pouring spout of the can of FIG. 1.

7 The principal elements in FIGS. 1 and 2 are an allplastic container20, a filter screenarrangement 21, 21a, and a handle and linkage capcontrol arrangement 22. The container is filled and vapors are ventedvia an opening on the right, and fluids are poured via an opening on theleft, (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2.) The cap control linkage 22 isnormally set to close the container except when a trigger is operated.The cap recloses when the trigger is released. The plastic container20may be formed by any suitable means such as blow molding inside a moldcavityformed by two pieceparts with a parting line which is thickened toform an up standing fin or rib 24 and handle 25. For strength andsupport, fin 24 may be made integral with a pouring neck 29; or, whenthe embodiment of FIG. 8 is used,

an all-plastic injection molded neck part 29a may be joined to the finby a suitable saddle-bracket, for strength and support. The handle 25 isfairly massive, in the order of an inch wide and a half-inch thick. Thestrength of the resulting structure is adequate to support a large, fullcontainer without distortion of the plastic. A series of holes 3!), 31and 32 are molded into the plastic fin 24 in order to provide a meansfor attaching the trigger and linkage mechanism to the container withoutpiercing the walls thereof.

The plastic at pouring neck 29 is shaped somewhat as the neck of abottle which enables fluid or other material to be poured out of thecontainer 20. The exterior of the neck opening 29 is threaded to receivemolded piecepart 290 (FIG. 8.) which is normally closed by a springbiased safety cap and an integral valve 34 (FIG. 2). Suspended inside asecond and oppositely disposed filling and venting neck 35 is filterscreen 21, which strains the fluid entering the container and whichprovides a fire barrier. To facilitate the suspension, the neck 35 hasan annular ring 36 for captur- 3 ing a circular lock ring 37 having thefilter screen 21 attached thereto. A similar screen 21a strains fluidsleaving the container and presents a tire barrier at th pouring neck29a.

Positioned over the filling and pouring neck is a safety cap 38 (FIG. 2)controlled by the trigger 23 and associated linkage 40 mounted on fin 24by a saddle bracket 42(FIGS. 3 and 4). The bracket 42 is attached to therib 24 by means of rivets 43-46 passing through the holes -33 (FIG. 1)in tin 24 and holes 47-50 in the saddle bracket 42 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Thehandle 25 and the bracket 42 are located at the top of the container 20,at the center of gravity thereof.

In keeping with an aspect of the invention, means are provided forcontrolling the opening and closing of the openings 29, in apredetermined sequence. More particularly, the trigger 23 and linkageassembly is preferably a single injection molded piecepart (FIG. 5).This part may be described as having a somewhat sleigh-shape with a pairof elongated mounting slots 51, 52 whichfit over the rivets 44, 46 topermit a reciprocal sliding motion in the directions A, B. Thissleighshaped part also includes a pair of spaced parallel runners 53, 54(FIG. 6) which loosely fit on opposite sides of the saddle bracket 42 toprovide horizontal stability.

A pusher wheelSS is rotably mounted on the tips of the runners 53, 54 toprovide a linkage actuation point for controlling safety cap 38, and ahole 56 on upstanding tab end 57 provides a linkage connection point forcontrolling the valve 34. Thus, if part 40 slides in direction A, valve34 'and cap 38 are closed. If it slides in direction B, the valve andcap open. The integrally formed trigger 23 provides a convenient squeezeactuated part for imparting-such sliding motion.

Attached to the filling and venting cap 38 (FIG. 2), and forming a partthereof, is a pin bracket 61 connected to an L-shaped assembly 62,which, in turn is pivotally connected by the pin 63 to an elongation 65of the neck 35. Internal vapor pressure may overcome the bias of aspring 66, to vent the can, which normally urges cap 38 to a closedposition. As the internal vapor pressure falls, the spring 66 reclosesthe cap 38. To fill the can, a user may lift at 67 to raise the cap 38far enough to insert the nozzle of a hose.

When trigger 23 is pulled and the pusher wheel 55 moves in direction B,it encounters the end of L-shaped bracket assembly 62 which pivots androtates to lift or pull pin bracket 61', with a force sufficient to openthe cap 38 against the bias of the spring 66. When the trigger 23 isreleased, the reverse action takes place. The part 40 slides to theleft,,in direction A, and spring .66 closes the cap 38.

At the opposite end of the part 40, the connecting point 56 ispositioned opposite a hole 70 (FIG. 7) in handle 25. Pivotally connectedat 56, and extending through hole 70 is an arm 71 which is connected toa bracket 72.

As shown inFlGS. 2 and 8, the pouring spout comprises two distinct parts29, 29a. The cylindrical portion 29, terminates in threads, and may bean integral part of body 20. The part 29a.may be made of any suitablematerial, but an injection molding is preferred. A valve body swivelring 73 turns onto the neck threads of part 29 and fits over a lock ring74 which is integral with the valve body 29a. An O-ring seal 75 preventsleakageat the coupling point between rings 73, 74.

The injection'molded portion 29a (FIG. 8) includes an integral bracket76 which may have externally molded trusses (two of which are marked77).for giving further strength. Theintegral bracket 76 abuts againstthe end of fin 24 on the blow molded container 20 and is joined theretoby the saddle bracket 42, side plates 78, 79(FIG. 4) and fastener 81fitting through apertures 82, 83. The valve body 29a may include aflange section 83 for connecting an outlet hose (not shown) thereto orfor permitting fluid to flow therefrom.

In greater detail, bracket 76 (FIG. 2).supports pin 84 which pivotallyattaches an L-shaped bracket 86 to the pouring vent or valve body 29a.The cap control linkage comprises a sliding bar 71 passing through slotin handle 25. The bar 71 is pivotally attached at 87 to an integral lug72. Spring 88 normally forces the bar 71 to slide in the direction A toa valve closed position.

The coil spring 88 and valve 34, with valve stem 89 attached thereto bya swivel joint at 90, are positioned inside the pouring vent or valvebody 29a. The upper end of the pouring vent or valve body 29a is closedand sealed by a cap 91 and a gasket 92. The cap 91 may be threaded tomate with threads on the outside of the cyl- I inder part of body 290.Alternatively, the cap 91 may be attached by any other well-known means;The valve stem 89 projects through a hole in the cap 91 and en-' gages anut and washers combination 93. A second spring 95 keeps the swiveljoint in a tightstate to preclude a feel of looseness. .After assembly93, the top of the stem 89 is swaged to make a complete'subassembly.

Mounted on the integral bracket 76 is an L-shaped bracket 86', which hasfork-shaped tines that fit under the nut and washer assembly 93 tocontrol the valve 34. Normally, the spring 88 presses the valve 34downwardly to seal the container 20. This pressure pulls the bar 71 tothe left and moves the unit 50 in direction A.

A particularly attractive feature of the invention is that the trigger23 is positioned to be operated by the users finger tips, in a squeezemotion. Thus, the user may pick up the container by holdingthe handle25. After a comfortable grip is secured, the container is lifted and thecontainer is tipped toa pouring position, the user squeezes his hand tomove trigger 23 and open the two vents. When bar 71 moves, the nut andwasher 93 are lifted by the tines on the L-bracket 86, spring 88 iscompressed, valve 34 opens, and fluid may be poured from the containerthrough the opening 83. This is done without having to shift the grip onthe container.

The trigger controlled linkage 50 operates the two vents in apre-determined sequence. More particularly, the righthand (as viewed inFIG. 2) end-55 of the linkage 50 is positioned to bear against a controllever of L-bracket 62, which lifts the safety cap 38. The lefthand endof the same-linkage 50 lifts the valve stem 89 for raising and loweringthe internal valve 34, to enable or prevent the flow of fluids from thecontainer 20 and through the opening 83. The proportions of linkage 50,and the various brackets and actuating arms, are such that the cap 38opens first to vent the container; then,

models. The plastic has greater strength, is more resistant to dents,and is cooler handling. The method of hardware attachment to the finmakes a good, strong, and durable connection without piercing the wallof the container. The metal hardware parts may be dip-coated withplastic to preclude exposure of bare metal surfaces which may corrode,rust, or generate sparks.

While the principles of the invention have been described above inconnection with specific embodiments, apparatus, and applications, it isto be understood that this description is made only by way of exampleand not as a limitation on the scope of the invention. Therefore, theappended claims are to be construed to cover all equivalent structures.

l claim:

l. A safety container comprising an all plastic wall having acontinuously closed inner surface except for a pair of longitudinallydisplaced upstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein,

a handle and fin combination integrally formed between said tubes andupstanding upon the top outer surface of said wall,

cover means over the tubes for closing each of said openings,

a trigger controlled sliding linkage means attached to said fin withoutbreaking through said inner surface for selecti-vely controlling thecover means for opening and closing said openings, and

said sliding linkage means comprising a plastic piece part having apairof spaced parallel linkage arms with each linkage arm-fittingagainst opposite sides of said fin and attached to said fin by elongatedmounting slots fitting over the ends of rivets passing through said fin.

2. The container ofclaim 1 wherein the cover means at one of saidopenings is closed by a pivoted cap and the cover means at the other ofsaid openings is closed by a spring-biased valve, and said slidinglinkage has proportions which open and close said cover means at saidtwo openings in a predetermined sequence.

3. A safety container comprising an all-plastic wall having acontinuously closed inner surface except for a pair oflongitudinallydisplaced upstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein,

a handle and fin combination integrally formed between said tubes andupstanding upon the top outer surface of said wall,

cover means over the tubes for closing each of said openings,

said cover means at one of said openings comprising a pivoted cap,

the cover means at the other of said openings comprisinga spring biasedvalve,

a trigger controlled sliding linkage means attached to said fin withoutbreaking through said inner surface for selectively controlling thecover means for opening and closing said openings,

said sliding linkage means dimensioned to open and close said covermeans at said two openings in a pre-determined sequence, and

said sliding linkage means comprising a plastic piece part having a pairof spaced parallel linkage arms with each linkage arm fitting againstopposite sides of said fin and attached to said fin by elongatedmounting slots fitting over the ends of rivets passing through said fin.

4; The container of claim 3 wherein one end of said linkage armsoperates'a closure means over one of said openings before the other endof said linkage arms operates a closure means over the other of saidopenings. 1 5. The container of claim 4 wherein said arms have anupstanding trigger thereon positioned in relation to said handle so thatsaid linkage arms may he slid without requiring the user to shift orloosen his grip on the handle.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said trigger is positioned to beoperated by a squeeze of a hand holding the handle.

7. A safety.containercomprising an all-plastic wall having acontinuously closed inner surface except for a pairof longitudinallydisplaced upstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein,

a handle and fin combinationintegrally formed between said tubes andupstanding upon the top outer surface of said wall,

cover means over the tubes for closing each of said openings,

one of said cover means comprising a cap lifted by an L-shaped bracketpivotally connected to said container,

the'other of said cover means comprising a spring biased valve enclosedwithin a valve body,

said sliding linkage means comprising a piece part having a pair ofspaced, parallel linkage arms with said arms fitting against oppositesides of said fin, one end of said sliding linkage being positioned toengage said L-shaped bracket and the other end of said sliding linkagebeing positioned to control said valve, said linkage having a lengthwhereby said one endoperates said L-shaped bracket to lift the cap overone of the said openings before the other end of said linkage operatessaid valve, and i said sliding linkage further including an upstandingintegral trigger positioned in said handle'to slide said linkage alongsaid arms. 8. The container of claim 7 wherein said piece part is allplastic.

1. A safety container comprising an all plastic wall having acontinuously closed inner surface except for a pair of longitudinallyDisplaced upstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein, a handleand fin combination integrally formed between said tubes and upstandingupon the top outer surface of said wall, cover means over the tubes forclosing each of said openings, a trigger controlled sliding linkagemeans attached to said fin without breaking through said inner surfacefor selecti-vely controlling the cover means for opening and closingsaid openings, and said sliding linkage means comprising a plastic piecepart having a pair of spaced parallel linkage arms with each linkage armfitting against opposite sides of said fin and attached to said fin byelongated mounting slots fitting over the ends of rivets passing throughsaid fin.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein the cover means at one ofsaid openings is closed by a pivoted cap and the cover means at theother of said openings is closed by a spring-biased valve, and saidsliding linkage has proportions which open and close said cover means atsaid two openings in a predetermined sequence.
 3. A safety containercomprising an all-plastic wall having a continuously closed innersurface except for a pair of longitudinally displaced upstandingcylindrical tubes with openings therein, a handle and fin combinationintegrally formed between said tubes and upstanding upon the top outersurface of said wall, cover means over the tubes for closing each ofsaid openings, said cover means at one of said openings comprising apivoted cap, the cover means at the other of said openings comprising aspring biased valve, a trigger controlled sliding linkage means attachedto said fin without breaking through said inner surface for selectivelycontrolling the cover means for opening and closing said openings, saidsliding linkage means dimensioned to open and close said cover means atsaid two openings in a pre-determined sequence, and said sliding linkagemeans comprising a plastic piece part having a pair of spaced parallellinkage arms with each linkage arm fitting against opposite sides ofsaid fin and attached to said fin by elongated mounting slots fittingover the ends of rivets passing through said fin.
 4. The container ofclaim 3 wherein one end of said linkage arms operates a closure meansover one of said openings before the other end of said linkage armsoperates a closure means over the other of said openings.
 5. Thecontainer of claim 4 wherein said arms have an upstanding triggerthereon positioned in relation to said handle so that said linkage armsmay be slid without requiring the user to shift or loosen his grip onthe handle.
 6. The container of claim 5 wherein said trigger ispositioned to be operated by a squeeze of a hand holding the handle. 7.A safety container comprising an all-plastic wall having a continuouslyclosed inner surface except for a pair of longitudinally displacedupstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein, a handle and fincombination integrally formed between said tubes and upstanding upon thetop outer surface of said wall, cover means over the tubes for closingeach of said openings, one of said cover means comprising a cap liftedby an L-shaped bracket pivotally connected to said container, the otherof said cover means comprising a spring biased valve enclosed within avalve body, said sliding linkage means comprising a piece part having apair of spaced, parallel linkage arms with said arms fitting againstopposite sides of said fin, one end of said sliding linkage beingpositioned to engage said L-shaped bracket and the other end of saidsliding linkage being positioned to control said valve, said linkagehaving a length whereby said one end operates said L-shaped bracket tolift the cap over one of the said openings before the other end of saidlinkage operates said valve, and said sliding linkage further includingan upstanding integral trigger positioned in said handle to slide saidlinkagE along said arms.
 8. The container of claim 7 wherein said piecepart is all plastic.